Envelop-moistenek



J. B. MULLALLY.

ENVELOP MOISTENER. APPLICATION FIL ED JULY 3|. I918.

1,3 1 3 ,723 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

auumto'a John B. Mullally UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MULLALLY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ENVELOP-MOISTENER.

Application filed July 31, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MULLALLY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices which are designed for use for moistening envelops, stamps and other articles which are provided with an adhesive coating and consists of certain combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will hold an absorbent pad or sponge, and which may be secured upon the hand at the back and base of the fingers, so as to be in convenient position for sweeping over the gummed edge of an envelop at the time the letter is placed therein.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in two forms of construction, the same being in principle much the same and illustrating my present preferred forms of construction.

Figure 1 is a side view of my device with a portion of the front wall of the pad-holder broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device, showing it as set within a holding cup.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified construction shown in place on the hand.

In constructing my device I provide a holder for a sponge or absorbent pad, which sponge or pad is held thereby with a portion projecting therefrom, so that it may be applied to the gummed surface for the purpose of moistening the same. I also provide rings or eyes attached, to receive fingers of the hand, so that the device may be supported at the back of the hand, preferably well down toward the base of the finers.

g The pad 1, as herein illustrated, is sup posed to consist of a small sponge. This is inserted within the holder 2, which, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a small cup or cylinder, which is open at its lower end. Preferably it is closed at the other end, although this is not essential.

Connected with the cup or holder 2, are the finger receiving rings 3 and 4. These rings are connected in suitable construction,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Serial No. 247,625.

as bythe bar 5. These rings may be made of wire or of a narrow strip of sheet metal, as preferred. This should be secured to the holder in about the relation shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, one of the rings, as the ring 3, should be at about the level of the holder, while the other ring, 4, should be at a higher elevation. separating the rings is to provide a firmer support from the hand. If a single ring were used there would be a strong tendency for the device to rock or roll over, as it is used. \Vhere two or more fingers are engaged this rocking action is very largely reduced.

I prefer to separate these rings so that they will engage non-adjacent fingers, as for instance, the first and third fingers of the hand, as is shown in Fig. 3. These fingerreceiving rings are placed in an axial plane of the holder, so that when the device is placed upon the hand the axis of the holder extends crosswise of the fingers.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction is shown in which the holder is made of a wire 6, coiled in the form of a helix into which one end of the sponge is pressed. In this case the rings 3 and 4 are formed by sim ply bending the ends of the Wire.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a cup 6 which has a tubular upward extension of sufficient size to easily receive the sponge l and its holder. This is slotted on one side to permit passage of the ring 3. The moistening device may be supported, in part at least, either by the engagement of the ring with the bot tom of the slot, or with the top of the cup. Within the cup is an absorbent mass 61 of cotton, sponge, felt, or like material, which is kept well moistened and from which the pad 1 absorbs moisture, so that it is at all times in suitably moist condition for use.

If, in taking the device out of its cap or holder, the sponge is too wet, it may be squeezed between the thumb and fingers, to extract the surplus moisture. The direction of pressure would be in the direction of the axis of the holder 2 or 6 of the res ective forms shown. In the form shown in Fig. 3, the coil 6 which forms the sponge holder would have sufficient resiliency to be axially compressible and expandible, so that it will return to its normal position.

In using my device it is placed upon the hand in the manner shown in Fig. 3. As the envelops are placed upon the table with The object of the flap folded out and With the addressed side down, the letter is slipped therein. The moistener should be placed upon the hand which is used for the insertion of the letter. When the letter is inserted the hand is then given a slight sweep which carries it over the gummed edge of the letter and the flap is then folded down. The device while on the hand, does not interfere in any way with any of the Work being done. It is light, cheap to manufacture, and is very convenient for use.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An envelop moistener comprising a holder for a moistening pad, and means for securing it at the back of the fingers at their base with the moistening surface of the pad extending outwardly from the finger backs.

2. An envelop moistener comprising a holder for a moistening pad and finger receiving rings adapted to receive a plurality of fingers.

8. An envelop moistener comprising a holder for a moistening pad and a finger receiving loop secured thereto and adapted to hold the operating face of the pad at the back of and substantially in the plane of the outer edge of the little finger side of the hand.

4-. An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent body and a holder therefor pro vided with means for engagement by the fingers to support said absorbent body at the back of the base of the fingers. I

5. An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent body and a holder therefor having rings for the reception of a plurality of the fingers of the hand.

6. An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent body and a holder therefor having two finger receiving rings separated to receive non-adjacent fingers.

7 An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent body and a holder therefor provided With rings for receiving a plurality of fingers.

8. An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent body, a holder for said body, and a plurality of finger receiving rings lying in an axial plane of said holder.

9. An envelop moistener comprising a compressible absorbent body and a holder therefor which is also compressible and contains means for securing" it to the fingers and at the back thereof.

10. An envelop moistener comprising an absorbent pad, a holder formed of a coiled resilient wire, said wire also having finger receiving eyes formed therein.

11. An envelop moistener comprising a compressible holder for a moistening pad, and means for securing it atthe back of the fingers at their base with the moistening surface of thepad extending outwardly from the finger backs.

Signed at Seattle, NVashington, this 26th day of July, 1918.

JOHN B. MULLALLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

